Attic hatchway cover

ABSTRACT

An attic hatchway cover wherein a tent-like structure having side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall each having a flange structure are arranged to engage and for securement to a hatchway opening framework employing mounting strips, such that fastening structure secures each mounting strip to each associated flange and simultaneously to the framework. .[.The.]. .Iadd.In a preferred embodiment, the .Iaddend.top wall of the cover employs a flap member selectively securable to the top wall and displaceable therefrom by use of a generally U-shaped zipper to disengage the flap relative to the top wall.

.Iadd.RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,833 filed Nov. 16,1994..Iaddend.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of invention relates to hatchway insulative cover structure tominimize heat loss therethrough from a dwelling, and particularly to anattic hatchway cover wherein the same is arranged for ease of mountingand use relative to the hatchway opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hatchway cover structure is indicated in the prior art such as a unitarystructure presented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,555 and the U.S. Pat. No.4,832,153. U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,757 indicates a hatchway cover wherein aplate is movable between a first position and a second position topermit closure of a hatchway opening, as the structure is slidablymounted for such movement. U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,966 indicates a cover fora stair opening utilizing an interfitting .[.polyurathan.]..Iadd.polyurethane .Iaddend.type housing cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The attic hatchway cover of the invention includes a cover structureformed of insulative side walls, having a top wall utilizing a flexibleflap, with access therethrough by utilization of a U-shaped zipperarranged to permit pivoting of the flap relative to the top wall of thehatchway cover.

Objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example,certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and includeexemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate variousobjects and features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric bottom view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric top view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an orthographic side view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic top view of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an orthographic view, taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3 inthe direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial isometric illustration indicatingfastener structure arranged for mounting the flanges of the side wallsrelative to a hatchway opening framework.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various.[.forms therefore,.]. .Iadd.forms. Therefore, .Iaddend.specificstructural and functional details disclosed herein are not to beinterpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as arepresentative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variouslyemploy the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailedstructure.

More specifically, the attic hatchway cover 20 is arranged for mountingupon a surrounding framework 12 that extends about an attic opening 11,such as indicated in FIG. 1. Such attic openings 11 and the surroundingframework 12 typically mount a fold-away staircase 13, illustrated inphantom, which per se forms no part of the instant invention. The coverstructure 10 is formed with a front wall 14 spaced from a rear wall 17and a first side wall 15 spaced from a second side wall 16. A top wall18 provides for a container assembly, such that the first side wall, thesecond side wall, the front wall, and the rear wall are typically of arigid or at least semi-rigid construction, wherein the top wall 18 maybe flexible in nature. .Iadd.The attic hatchway cover 10 furtherincludes means for providing access to the attic through the attichatchway cover 10 and the attic opening 11. The means for providingaccess to the attic includes a generally U-shaped zipper member 28 thathas a first leg parallel to the first side wall 15, a second legparallel to the front wall 14, and a third leg parallel to the secondside wall 16. .Iaddend.Specifically, a top wall flap 27 contained withinthe top wall is .[.specifically.]. of flexible construction, although asan alternative may be rigid and hingedly connected to the top walladjacent the rear wall 17, such that .[.a.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.U-shapedzipper .[.connector.]. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.28 separates the top wallflap 27 relative to the top wall for access through the top wall. Theflexible construction of the top wall flap 27 would be more manuallymanipulative in use, or alternatively a rigid cover that employs aflexible and hinged connection relative to the top wall between the freedistal ends of the U-shaped zipper would also function to permit accessthrough the top wall 18.

As illustrated, the front wall, the first side wall, the second sidewall, and the rear wall each include a lowermost continuous end spacedan equal distance relative to the top wall, such that a front wallflange 19 extends obliquely and exteriorly of the interior cavity 13 ofthe cover structure 10, with a first side wall flange 20 extendingexteriorly of the first side wall, a second side wall flange 21extending exteriorly of the second side wall .[.18,.]. .Iadd.16, and.Iaddend.with a rear wall flange 22 extending exteriorly of the rearwall 17. The respective first side wall flange 20, second side wallflange 21, the rear wall flange 22, and the front wall flange 19 areeach arranged to be secured between the framework 12 and a respectivesecond mounting strip 24, a third mounting strip 25, a fourth mountingstrip 26, and a first mounting strip 23 to engage for example the frontwall flange 19, with fasteners 32 available for employment, such asillustrated in FIG. 6, to secure each respective mounting strip to theframework 12, or alternatively other fastening means may be employedsuch as hook and loop fasteners, clasps, and the like.

Each wall of the cover 10 is preferably arranged to include an innerwall 29 spaced from an outer wall 30, having an insulative core 31extending coextensively between the inner wall 29 and the outer wall 30coextensive of a respective wall structure.

The front wall, the rear wall, and the first and second side walls maybe formed of flexible construction, such that each corner intersectionmay employ a stiffener rod or the like (not shown) to maintain thegeometric integrity of the cover structure in use.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present inventionhave been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited tothe specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of theUnited States is as follows:
 1. An attic hatchway cover arranged forsecurement onto a framework of an attic opening, wherein the covercomprises,a first side wall spaced from a second side wall and a frontwall connected to a rear wall, wherein the front wall is fixedly andobliquely secured to the first side wall and the second side wall, andthe rear wall is obliquely and fixedly secured to the first side walland the second side wall, and the rear wall spaced from the front wall,a top wall extending coextensively to the front wall, the first sidewall, the second side wall, and the rear wall to define a cavity withinthe cover, and the top wall having a zipper member, and the zippermember having a first end spaced from a second end, and the top wallhaving a flap hingedly secured to the top wall between the first end andthe second end, and selectively secured to the top wall through thezipper member, wherein the front wall, the rear wall, the first sidewall, and the second side wall are each of a rigid construction.
 2. Acover as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flap is formed of flexibleconstruction.
 3. A cover as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least thefront wall, the rear wall, and the first side wall and the second sidewall each have an inner surface spaced from an outer surface, and a coreextending coextensively between the inner surface and the outer surface.4. A cover as set forth in claim 3 wherein the zipper member is of aU-shaped configuration to direct the zipper along the top wall inadjacency to the second side wall, the front wall, and the first sidewall, with a first leg of the zipper member extending parallel to thefirst side wall, a second leg of the zipper member extending parallel tothe second side wall, and a third leg of the zipper member extendinggenerally parallel to the front wall.
 5. A cover as set forth in claim 4wherein the front wall includes a front wall flange projecting beyondthe front wall oriented exteriorly of the cavity, the first side wallhaving a first side wall flange projecting exteriorly of the first sidewall and extending obliquely relative to the first side wall, a secondside wall flange secured to the second side wall extending obliquelyrelative to the second side wall extending exteriorly of the cavity, anda rear wall flange fixedly secured to the rear wall extending obliquelyrelative to the rear wall and exteriorly of the cavity, wherein thefirst side wall flange, the second side wall flange, the front wallflange, and the rear wall flange are coplanar.
 6. A cover as set forthin claim 5 including a first fastener strip arranged to engage the frontwall flange, a second fastener strip arranged to engage the first sidewall flange, a third fastener strip arranged to engage the second sidewall flange, and a fourth fastener strip arranged to engage the rearwall flange, and fastening means for securing the first fastening stripto the front wall flange, and for securing the second fastening strip tothe second side wall flange, and for securing the third fastening stripto the third front wall flange, and for securing the fourth strip to therear wall flange. .Iadd.
 7. An attic hatchway cover arranged forsecurement onto a framework of an attic opening, wherein the covercomprises:a first side wall spaced from a second side wall and a frontwall spaced from a rear wall, wherein said front wall is fixedly andobliquely secured to said first side wall and said second side wall andsaid rear wall is obliquely and fixedly secured to said first side walland said second side wall, a top wall extending coextensively to saidfront wall, said first side wall, said second side wall and said rearwall to define a cavity within the cover; and means for providing accessto the attic through the cover and the attic opening, said means forproviding access comprising a generally U-shaped zipper member having afirst end spaced from a second end, said zipper member forming a flapwith said top wall, said flap selectively secured to the top wall bysaid zipper member; wherein said top wall comprises a hinge extendingfrom said first side wall to said second side wall, said flap secured tosaid top wall by said hinge between said first end of said zipper memberand said second end of said zipper member; and wherein said front wall,said rear wall, said first side wall and said second side wall are eachof a rigid construction..Iaddend..Iadd.8. A cover as set forth in claim7 wherein at least said front wall, said rear wall, said first side walland said second side wall each have an inner surface spaced from anouter surface and a core extending coextensively between the innersurface and the outer surface..Iaddend..Iadd.9. An attic hatchway coveraccording to claim 8wherein said front wall comprises a front wallflange projecting obliquely from said front wall and extendingexteriorly of the cavity, said first side wall comprising a first sidewall flange projecting obliquely from said first side wall and extendingexteriorly of the cavity, said second side wall comprises a second sidewall flange projecting obliquely from said second side wall andextending exteriorly of the cavity, and said rear wall flange projectingobliquely from said rear wall and extending exteriorly of the cavity;and wherein said first side wall flange, said second side wall flange,said front wall flange and said rear wall flange arecoplanar..Iaddend..Iadd.10. A cover as set forth in claim 9 including afirst fastener strip arranged to engage the front wall flange, a secondfastener strip arranged to engage the first side wall flange, a thirdfastener strip arranged to engage the second side wall flange, and afourth fastener strip arranged to engage the rear wall flange, andfastening means for securing the first fastening strip to the front wallflange, and for securing the second fastening strip to the second sidewall flange, and for securing the third fastening strip to the thirdfront wall flange, and for securing the fourth strip to the rear wallflange..Iaddend..Iadd.11. An attic hatchway cover according to claim 10wherein said U-shaped zipper member comprises a first leg extendingparallel to said first side wall adjacent said first side wall flange, asecond leg extending parallel to said front wall adjacent said frontwall flange and a third leg extending parallel to said second side walladjacent said second side wall flange..Iaddend..Iadd.12. An attichatchway cover according to claim 10 wherein said U-shaped zipper membercomprises a first leg extending parallel to said first side wallopposite said first side wall flange, a second leg extending parallel tosaid front wall opposite said front wall flange and a third legextending parallel to said second side wall opposite said second sidewall flange..Iaddend.